Dinh Van Hai
Đinh Văn Hải
Current Status: Released - at risk
Other Names: Đinh Văn Hải, Tiếng Vọng Hành Tinh
Date of Birth: August 16, 1974
Gender: M
Ethnicity: Kinh
Activist Focus:
- Freedom of expression
- Land rights
- Sovereignty
Details
Dinh Van Hai is from Duc Trong district, Lam Dong province. Hai has a physical disability; he walks with a limp.
With deep knowledge on international, criminal, civil and land rights, he has often shared his views online about domestic and international issues. He has participated in many demonstrations and has advocated for the rights of political prisoners and activists.
On July 15, 2017, Hai was detained at police station of Tan Phu District, Ward 9, Ho Chi Minh City when marching peacefully to protest against a development project. Before releasing him, police confiscated his phone and documents. He was attacked by unknown individuals after attempting to aid a fellow activist in 2018.
Hai was arrested in 2021 while taking refuge inside a Buddhist temple, and in 2022, convicted of spreading “anti-state propaganda" by a court in Lam Dong Province and sentenced to five years' imprisonment. Hai posted 13 video clips and 79 posts that allegedly 'defamed the regime and [deceased] leader Ho Chi Minh'. He had no lawyer at trial.
On March 9, 2026, police in Lam Dong province detained Dinh Van Hai alongside blogger Le Anh Hung. Private sources confirmed to Project88 that Hai was questioned for two hours and later released.
June 27, 2018: beaten harshly after visiting activist Do Thi Minh Hanh
On June 27, 2018, Dinh Van Hai, with Vu Tien Chi, went to visit activist Minh Hanh because she was being attacked at home. After live-streaming at Minh Hanh’s house, showing her dangerous situation Dinh Van Hai and Vu Tien Chi left.
At around 12:00 pm, two unknown persons followed and allegedly attacked them with wooden and iron sticks when they were at National Way 20, Lien Dam Commune, Di Linh District, Lam Dong Province. After Hai and Chi fell off their motorbike, the individuals continued beating them harshly, causing Hai to have a broken right hand and left clavicle shoulder.
August 22, 2019: summoned for questioning over his Facebook activities
On August 23, 2019, police in Lam Dong Province summoned Hai for questioning at a police station of Ninh Gia commune, Duc Trong District. The reason for the summons was allegedly to question him about the usage of his Facebook account. It is reported that Hai refused to comply with the summons.
Sentenced to 5 years in prison under Art. 117 (2015 Code). Expected Release is October 7, 2026.
April 28, 2022 - Date of trial
None -- no legal representation
5 years in prison
October 7, 2026
In the months prior to his arrest, Dinh Van Hai had been taking refuge inside the pagoda Phuoc Buu. On October 7, 2021, two men allegedly pretended to donate rice and gained entrance to the pagoda. They did not present an arrest warrant. Several people who tried to record the arrest were allegedly threatened that they, too, would be arrested.
On November 1, 2021, the UN Special Rapporteur on Arbitrary Detention sent the government of Vietnam its report on human rights defenders Chung Hoang Chuong, Nguyen Van Nghiem, Le Van Dung, Dinh Thi Thu Thuy, Do Nam Trung and Dinh Van Hai, requesting a response. On November 21, the government requested a two-month extension to February, 2022, to reply.
In 2022, a court in Lam Dong Province convicted Dinh Van Hai of spreading “anti-state propaganda" and sentenced to five years' imprisonment. They alleged that Hai posted 13 video clips and 79 posts that 'defamed the regime and [deceased] leader Ho Chi Minh'. He did not have a lawyer at trial.
Resources
Thêm người bị bắt theo Điều 117 vì viết bài trên Facebook, Radio Free Asia Vietnamese, October 7, 2021
Report from the UN Special Rapporteur, November 2021
Ông Đinh Văn Hải bị lãnh án 5 năm tù vì ‘nói xấu chế độ’, VOA Vietnamese, April 28, 2022
March 9, 2026: detained for questioning
March 9, 2026
District
Lam Dong province
On March 9, police in Lam Dong province detained Dinh Van Hai alongside blogger Le Anh Hung. Private sources confirmed to Project88 that Hai was questioned for two hours and later released.
Profile last updated: 2026-03-19 15:42:09